Free. Instant. No signup. Pulls recalls and complaints for your exact vehicle.

Couldn't find that VIN. Check the digits and try again.

Direct rivals · Direct rivals in the compact sedan segment

2022 Honda Civic vs 2022 Nissan Sentra

Reliability comparison based on NHTSA recall and complaint records.

Synced 2026-06-14 Source: NHTSA public records Reviewed by ASE-certified contributors
Quick verdict
2022 Nissan Sentra edges ahead by a narrow margin

These two are direct rivals built for the same use case. The 2022 Nissan Sentra comes out slightly ahead on reliability data (3.8 versus 3.4), but the margin is small enough that specific feature preferences could legitimately tip the choice the other way.

2022 Honda Civic

3.4/5
Reliability score
874 complaints
0 recalls (0 critical)
$11,550 repair exposure
vs
More reliable

2022 Nissan Sentra

3.8/5
Reliability score
79 complaints
2 recalls (0 critical)
$5,100 repair exposure

Stories from the shop

The 2022 Nissan Sentra edges this one, but it's tight. We're talking 3.8 versus 3.4 on reliability. Close enough that specific feature preferences or one favorable price could legitimately swing it the other way.

If you lean 2022 Honda Civic, know what you're getting into on steering and electrical. Those categories have noticeably more complaints than the 2022 Nissan Sentra sees, and they're not cheap items when they go.

On the dollars-and-cents side, total repair exposure across the top problem areas runs 2.3x higher on the 2022 Honda Civic. That's the number to keep in mind when you're pricing the deal — a $2,000 difference in purchase price disappears the first time you're staring at a transmission rebuild.

Bottom line: pick based on use case more than the spec sheet. If you tow heavy and don't want to think about it, that's one calculation. If you're a daily driver and want the cheapest path forward, that's another. Both of these will get you down the road. We're just telling you where each one is most likely to break.

— ProblemsByVin editorial team, drawing on the NHTSA data and shop experience.

Side-by-side by problem area

Category
2022 Honda Civic
2022 Nissan Sentra
steering
726 reports
moderate · ~$700
30 reports
severe · ~$700
electrical
25 reports
moderate · ~$850
21 reports
moderate · ~$850
cruise control
31 reports
moderate · ~$600
3 reports
severe · ~$600
powertrain
6 reports
severe · ~$2,500
4 reports
moderate · ~$2,500
brakes
6 reports
severe · ~$450
3 reports
moderate · ~$450
body
8 reports
moderate · ~$1,500
No reports
visibility
8 reports
moderate · ~$350
No reports
engine
6 reports
severe · ~$3,100
No reports

Common questions

Which is more reliable, the 2022 Honda Civic or the 2022 Nissan Sentra?

Based on the NHTSA data we track, the 2022 Nissan Sentra comes out ahead with a reliability score of 3.8 versus 3.4. The margin is narrow, so the verdict could shift if you weight specific categories differently or factor in your own use case.

What goes wrong more often on the 2022 Honda Civic?

Compared to the 2022 Nissan Sentra, the 2022 Honda Civic sees more reported issues in steering and electrical. That doesn't mean it's a bad truck — it means those are the categories worth budgeting for if you go that direction.

What goes wrong more often on the 2022 Nissan Sentra?

On the categories we tracked, the 2022 Nissan Sentra doesn't show meaningfully more complaints than the 2022 Honda Civic. The two are running close.

Which has more recalls?

The 2022 Nissan Sentra has more active recalls (2 vs 0). Total count is less important than severity, though — a vehicle with one critical recall and zero moderate ones is generally riskier than one with five moderate recalls.

Is an extended warranty worth it on either of these?

Both vehicles are out of factory bumper-to-bumper coverage at this point. Combined repair exposure across the top problem categories runs around $11,550 on the higher-risk vehicle. A quality service contract typically costs $1,800–3,500 over 3 years, so a single major failure usually pays for the contract. The math favors warranty coverage on whichever vehicle you choose, especially if you plan to keep it past 100,000 miles.

Related comparisons

Reliability scores, complaint counts, and severity ratings derived from the NHTSA public records database. Verify each vehicle's federal record: 2022 Honda Civic on NHTSA · 2022 Nissan Sentra on NHTSA. "Repair exposure" is the sum of average independent-shop repair costs across each vehicle's tracked problem categories and is intended as a relative comparison, not an exact prediction. Editorial commentary written by ProblemsByVin contributors and reviewed by ASE-certified mechanics. Some links on this page are affiliate links.
Get a free warranty quote →
Sponsored — we earn a commission if you complete a quote. Disclosure.